According to the Pew Internet & American Life Tech User Quiz I am a Digital collaborator. This results is spot on I use technology in many ways and many times per day. The only part I do not agree with is that it states that this type of user is mostly male. I am a woman! In reading the other types of users I feel that I do also have traits of Ambivalent Networker, I do majority of my socializing thru Facebook and Instagram. From tome to time I get on twitter, but not that interested in it for networking/socializing. I use my cellphone for talk/text/and social media thru apps.
The second category I feel I have traits in would be a Media Mover, I do put lots of digital photos on line and often share other photos with quotes, scenery, and food.
It is important to discuss other type of different technology users because you have to know the best way to connect with your friends, co workers, business partners, and any other social relationships. For example, you do not want to text someone who does not have text feature on their mobile phone. There are levels of technology users as we can see with all the potential types in this quiz. If you are not aware of the diversity you limit your chances to connect or communicate effectively.
It sound like you use technology a lot. Do you feel that you cannot live without it. Have you every tried to detox from it? I believe that most people would fit into more than one user type. I agree discussing other types allows you to know how to connect with other people. It allows you to know what they type of language or topics to talk about because if I never used technology or wasn’t familiar with it and someone started talking to me saying “LOL” or “OMG” I would be really confused.
I can easily relate to you because I am also a Digital Collaborator. Also like you, I am a female and NOT in my late 30’s, so we clearly fall into the minority demographic of this technological category. I think our society has made it easy for us to be Digital Collaborators – especially since the existence of the iPhone, which allows us to have access to internet, Facetime, text messaging, GPS, etc., 24/7. Horrigan (2009) says that people in the Digital Collaborator group use their electronic devices to play games, mostly on the internet. I must admit – I am a sucker for Words with Friends! :-)
I agree with you in that we need to know the different types of technology users in order to best relate to other people. It helps us “Digital Collaboraters” from getting offended when we don’t immediately get an email or text back from others who might be more closely related to the Drifting Surfers.
Understanding how others communicate is especially important for me at work. I have to familiarize myself with my manager’s and director’s habits. For instance, would they rather me pop my head in their office to give them a quick update on a particular project, or would they prefer an email? Do they prefer standard email updates or formal PPT decks and presentations?
This of course, isn’t exclusive to CMC. I still need to understand the dynamics of our face-to-face relationship as well. Can I joke with my boss? Do we talk about our personal lives before or after talking shop? Do they like to be addressed a certain way? For instance, I can’t call Fred Smith, CEO of FedEx, bud or man. He’s Mr. Smith. But at AutoZone, our CEO was Bill. He could be seen frequently in casual places, like the work cafeteria or the break room.
My type also said it was mostly men. I do wonder about the gender variables that make women generally think differently about technology. You brought up a good point about making sure people can receive texts before you try to communicate that way. Many people don’t consider their friends’ technological levels. Some people I know only invite people via Facebook, so if their friends are offline, they don’t take the time to extend a personal invitation. I think you are very considerate! :)
Like you, I was classified as a digital collaborator, but I think I am more realistically a drifting surfer. I admire people such as you who are confident in using various forms of technology to communicate. By contrast, this class has given me my first “blogging” experience. I fully agree with your comments related to the understanding of other technology users. I learned in high school marketing that a message sent, but either not received or going unheard, constitutes ineffective communication. With the major intent of these devices seemingly being to improve communication, it could be pointless, as said, to send a message to someone who was unable to retrieve it.
I fully agree that you must understand the many different types of internet and ICT users in order to know the best way to connect with those in your life. I very much take the ability to text for granted, because my friends and family use it so frequently. However, my older relatives do not text and do not appreciate receiving texts that they have to pay for! In order to stay in touch with them, I rely on email or phone calls. I work at the Apple store, and I frequently hear from older customers that they are buying an iPhone simply because they want to stay connected to their younger children and grandchildren who only text or Facebook. I think its sad that people are not making a larger attempt to connect with those around them in different ways. We have so much technology at our disposal that we often neglect those in our lives who don’t use it!
My type was said to be predominantly male as well, I thought that was pretty funny. I do agree that it is beneficial to be aware of how others use technology so that you can communicate effectively with them. It’s also great to understand how others use technology to communicate so that you can better assist them in communicating effectively with you. If you understand how to communicate with others, but they cannot accommodate you, communication is still hindered.